CINDERELLA Review. Even Better On The Big Screen

The Disney classic Cinderella gets a face-lift and shines as it prepares for its Blu-ray debut. We had a chance to attend a screening for the film on the big screen for one day only.

It goes without saying that Cinderella represents one of Disney's greatest achievements. For a film that debuted in 1950, its timelessness is both awe-inspiring and a reminder that great films can touch generations long after its animators completed the final cut. At the time, Cinderella represented a huge financial risk for Disney, who had not experienced a hit since Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. Its success was far from guaranteed, but instant public affection generated a hit and an instant classic. Over the years, Disney has done its best to preserve the film by releasing it on VHS and DVD; but time is the enemy of every film produced prior to the digital revolution, and not even Cinderella's fairy god mother could keep the original print from breaking down. Thus it's all the more amazing to see it cleaned up and ready for the performance of its life as Disney re-premieres on both the big screen and on Blu-ray.

While there's no new footage here, families will thoroughly enjoy the adventures of Cinderella (vocied by Ilene Woods) and her animal friends as she struggles to escape the clutches of the vile Lady Tremaine (voiced by Eleanor Audley). There is absolutely no evidence of pops, dirt, or blurriness in the print, making it stand out as if it were a new release. The king's castle never looked so majestic, Cinderella's dress never more elegant, and characters like Jaq and Gus never more clear than this. It appears Disney used the mother of all master prints to bring Cinderella's story back to life. The result is nothing short of extraordinary - colors and ink lines are the first things you notice, with their detail as stunning in still frames as they during the many action sequences. And while the monaural sound track is nothing spectacular, it does seem vastly improved, which says a lot considering its initial limitations.
In every way, the restoration of Cinderella should stand as one of the best ever undertaken by Disney. I cannot wait for the Blu-ray release, as the scope of the studio's efforts will become more apparent as the lights fade and we once again dream that wish which has made Cinderella such an indelible classic. The film is rated G, and comes highly recommended.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Enter For A Chance To Win Screening Passes To See DEATH WISH on February 28th at 7:00 PM in Dallas.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures presents director Eli Roth's reimagining of the 1974 revenge thriller Death Wish. Dr. Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is a surgeon who only sees the aftermath of his city's violence when it is rushed into his ER - until his wife (Elisabeth Shue) and college-age daughter (Camila Morrone) are viciously attacked in their suburban home. With the police overloaded with crimes, Paul, burning for revenge, hunts his family's assailants to deliver justice. As the anonymous slayings of criminals grabs the media's attention, the city wonders if this deadly avenger is a guardian angel or a grim reaper. Fury and fate collide in the intense action-thriller Death Wish.

After draining his life savings to enter a team in the Rucker Classic street ball tournament in Harlem, Dax (Lil Rel Howery) is dealt a series of unfortunate setbacks, including losing his team to his longtime rival (Nick Kroll). Desperate to win the tournament and the cash prize, Dax stumbles upon the man, the myth, the legend UNCLE DREW (NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving) and convinces him to return to the court one more time. The two men embark on a road trip to round up Drew's old basketball squad (Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, and Lisa Leslie) and prove that a group of septuagenarians can still win the big one.

After a successful five years as a fan-favorite digital episodic series, originally conceived by Pepsi, UNCLE DREW, will hit theaters June 29, 2018.

UNCLE DREW is a Summit Entertainment release produced by Temple Hill in association with PepsiCo’s Creators League Studios.

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.